The King and I (1956)

[Musical Master]

The King and I, out of all the musical films in history, is a personal favorite of mine. The music, cast, production, everything was all hitting bullseyes all at once (is it a wonder why it was nominated for Best Picture). It was a favorite when I was 9 years old and it still is.

What are you're thoughts on this wonderful movie with Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner?

[Escapay]

When I first saw the film, I couldn't understand how Rameses left Egypt and became king of another country. Then again, I was about six or seven, and thought that The Ten Commandments was a true story (in the sense that it really happened with those actors). Seeing Yul Brynner in another role confused me, although for some reason, I could differentiate between the two Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins versus The Sound of Music.

I thoroughly enjoy the musical, out of the R&H canon, I'd rank it a modest #5. It features wonderful set pieces and very memorable songs, but I simply enjoy The Sound of Music, Flower Drum Song, South Pacific, and Oklahoma! more.

Albert

[carolinakid]

I love the film of The King and I but I prefer the stage show more. There were too many songs cut from the film (I Have Dreamed and My Lord and Master being the most egregious, imo) that it seems incomplete to me. At least the full score was recorded and available on the ST CD. I think Marni Nixion did a great job with the dubbing and how she worked alongside Deborah Kerr during the recording is a fascinating part of her autobiography. I thought Yul Brynner was brilliant and was glad his interpretation of the role was captured forever. The Small House of Uncle Thomas ballet was fantastic. The King and I probably ranks 3rd as my favorite R&H score after The Sound of Music and Carousel. But I also love Flower Drum Song, South Pacific, Cinderella and Oklahoma. Allegro is growing on me too! R&H are my favorite Broadway composers.

[my chicken is infected]

I think The Sound Of Music and The King And I are tied as my #1 favorite R&H musicals, with South Pacific and Cinderella tying at #2. I still haven't seen Flower Drum Song, and while Oklahoma and Carousel are well done, I just don't find myself as drawn to them as the top 4 I mentioned, although both have lovely standards - especially Carousel. Frank Sinatra did a wonderful recording of Soliloquy that could stand as the greatest ever recorded, Barbra Streisand's rendition of If I Loved You is just gorgeous, and Judy Garland has an absolutely knockout reading of You'll Never Walk Alone that she recorded during her London sessions in 1960.

I really enjoy The King And I. Deborah Kerr was never more beautiful, regal, or lovely than in this film, dressed in exquisite period costumes by Irene Sharaff, who not only won a Tony for the Broadway production, but an Oscar for the film version. Yul Brynner's staggering performance is gratefully captured forever on celluloid. The sets, the costumes, the widescreen photography, the music, the actors, the musical numbers - everything was firing on all cylinders when this film was made. I really hope Fox will soon release this to Blu-Ray - this is a large format film, it'll look spectacular in 1080p. And unlike some of Marni's other well-known dubbing jobs, she made a perfect voice double for Deborah Kerr. So convincing, one actually forgets it's not Deborah Kerr singing. Unlike West Side Story, where it's close enough but you can still tell the singing voice doesn't belong to Natalie Wood. And definitely not like My Fair Lady, where even deaf people could tell the singing voice doesn't belong to Audrey Hepburn.

[Musical Master]

I think The Sound Of Music and The King And I are tied as my #1 favorite R&H musicals, with South Pacific and Cinderella tying at #2. I still haven't seen Flower Drum Song, and while Oklahoma and Carousel are well done, I just don't find myself as drawn to them as the top 4 I mentioned, although both have lovely standards - especially Carousel. Frank Sinatra did a wonderful recording of Soliloquy that could stand as the greatest ever recorded, Barbra Streisand's rendition of If I Loved You is just gorgeous, and Judy Garland has an absolutely knockout reading of You'll Never Walk Alone that she recorded during her London sessions in 1960.

I really enjoy The King And I. Deborah Kerr was never more beautiful, regal, or lovely than in this film, dressed in exquisite period costumes by Irene Sharaff, who not only won a Tony for the Broadway production, but an Oscar for the film version. Yul Brynner's staggering performance is gratefully captured forever on celluloid. The sets, the costumes, the widescreen photography, the music, the actors, the musical numbers - everything was firing on all cylinders when this film was made. I really hope Fox will soon release this to Blu-Ray - this is a large format film, it'll look spectacular in 1080p. And unlike some of Marni's other well-known dubbing jobs, she made a perfect voice double for Deborah Kerr. So convincing, one actually forgets it's not Deborah Kerr singing. Unlike West Side Story, where it's close enough but you can still tell the singing voice doesn't belong to Natalie Wood. And definitely not like My Fair Lady, where even deaf people could tell the singing voice doesn't belong to Audrey Hepburn.

It is famously known that Marni Nixion's best work (to her), was indeed, this very film. There will never be a musical film that will be made with such beauty and granduer (That CinemaScope 55 for example ) that not even "Les Miserables" or many other musical films could top.

[Disney Guru]

The King and I (1956) was my introduction to Rodgers & Hammerstein when I was very young and I adored it, has always been my favorite out of the O&H films for sentimental reasons and because it is simply amazing. Also adore Flower Drum Song I hadn't ever seen it until a few years ago and was blown away. Have always loved Nancy Kwan brilliant yet underrated actress but she stole the show. Never cared for Oklahoma loved the score but the Jud Fry character just how dark it was kinda ruined it for me. Carousel, another one the script was a bit light in parts but fabulous score. Absolutely adore Sound of Music, South Pacific and State Fair (Both the 40s version with Jeanne Crain and Dick Haymes and the 60s remake with Pat Boone and Ann-Margret).

[Musical Master]

But yet the most infuriating things about it is that some people confuse this beautiful movie with the ATROCIOUS, GOD-AWFUL, BLASPHEMOUS, and not to mention REVOLTING animated version from 1999.

Oh god that animated movie was so bad to the point where I couldn't be able to watch the original film for two weeks because of it. I hope more and more people see and love the 1956 adaptation over.. THAT other one...

[Disney Guru]

But yet the most infuriating things about it is that some people confuse this beautiful movie with the ATROCIOUS, GOD-AWFUL, BLASPHEMOUS, and not to mention REVOLTING animated version from 1999.

Oh god that animated movie was so bad to the point where I couldn't be able to watch the original film for two weeks because of it. I hope more and more people see and love the 1956 adaptation over.. THAT other one...

Atrocious, God-Awful, Blasphemous? Bit strong don't ya think? My parents rented it once around the time it came out. I had asked my mom to pick up The King and I (1956 version) she got it by mistake. It was of course not as good as the original but was still a cute film for the kids, I at 12 found it cute kinda funny in ways.

[Musical Master]

But yet the most infuriating things about it is that some people confuse this beautiful movie with the ATROCIOUS, GOD-AWFUL, BLASPHEMOUS, and not to mention REVOLTING animated version from 1999.

Oh god that animated movie was so bad to the point where I couldn't be able to watch the original film for two weeks because of it. I hope more and more people see and love the 1956 adaptation over.. THAT other one...

Atrocious, God-Awful, Blasphemous? Bit strong don't ya think? My parents rented it once around the time it came out. I had asked my mom to pick up The King and I (1956 version) she got it by mistake. It was of course not as good as the original but was still a cute film for the kids, I at 12 found it cute kinda funny in ways.

I'm sorry... It's just that movie made so many bad, uninspired, Disney knock-off, and insulting choices that I really HATE that version to no end. Besides, I saw the 1956 version when I was younger and I loved it just fine and I am a huge Rodgers and Hammerstein fan so forgive the angry feelings.

It's sad that the director of that ghastly animated disaster was Richard Rich who was once a Disney animator and was the very same director of the shockingly decent The Swan Princess.

[my chicken is infected]

But yet the most infuriating things about it is that some people confuse this beautiful movie with the ATROCIOUS, GOD-AWFUL, BLASPHEMOUS, and not to mention REVOLTING animated version from 1999.

Oh god that animated movie was so bad to the point where I couldn't be able to watch the original film for two weeks because of it. I hope more and more people see and love the 1956 adaptation over.. THAT other one...

Atrocious, God-Awful, Blasphemous? Bit strong don't ya think? My parents rented it once around the time it came out. I had asked my mom to pick up The King and I (1956 version) she got it by mistake. It was of course not as good as the original but was still a cute film for the kids, I at 12 found it cute kinda funny in ways.

I really have to concur with Musical Master. Watching the review of the animated version on Nostalgia Critic recently reminded me of why I hated that remake with a burning passion. I'd actually been excited for it, since I thought "Well maybe this'll be a good adaptation." Boy was I wrong. They didn't even record a NEW end credits song - they used Barbra Streisand's medley from The Broadway Album, which was 14 years old by then. (Altho frankly, at least that provides me with something positive to say about it, along with the singers. The singers were Broadway-caliber talent, but unfortunately, they had to compete with goopy Disney-on-steroids musical arrangements.)

Makes me glad that when Fox and Don Bluth had the choice between Anastasia and a remake of My Fair Lady, they went with Anastasia. I really don't wanna know how they'd have ruined My Fair Lady.

[Musical Master]

Atrocious, God-Awful, Blasphemous? Bit strong don't ya think? My parents rented it once around the time it came out. I had asked my mom to pick up The King and I (1956 version) she got it by mistake. It was of course not as good as the original but was still a cute film for the kids, I at 12 found it cute kinda funny in ways.

I really have to concur with Musical Master. Watching the review of the animated version on Nostalgia Critic recently reminded me of why I hated that remake with a burning passion. I'd actually been excited for it, since I thought "Well maybe this'll be a good adaptation." Boy was I wrong. They didn't even record a NEW end credits song - they used Barbra Streisand's medley from The Broadway Album, which was 14 years old by then. (Altho frankly, at least that provides me with something positive to say about it, along with the singers. The singers were Broadway-caliber talent, but unfortunately, they had to compete with goopy Disney-on-steroids musical arrangements.)

Makes me glad that when Fox and Don Bluth had the choice between Anastasia and a remake of My Fair Lady, they went with Anastasia. I really don't wanna know how they'd have ruined My Fair Lady.

Glad that I'm not alone on that one, but let's talk about the original 1956 version. There is the mystery of if Rita Moreno was fully dubbed or partially. I'd say that in the final version, she was dubbed a little bit and for The Small House of Uncle Thomas, she used her own voice of course.

[carolinakid]

Does Rita Moreno really sing? I know her vocals in West Side Story were done by Betty Wand who also dubbed for Leslie Caron in Gigi. I was able to find a source which said Leona Gordon augmented Rita's vocal in We Kiss In A Shadow.

[Musical Master]

Does Rita Moreno really sing? I know her vocals in West Side Story were done by Betty Wand who also dubbed for Leslie Caron in Gigi. I was able to find a source which said Leona Gordon augmented Rita's vocal in We Kiss In A Shadow.

Rita actually sings with her own vocals in America and Betty did A Boy Like That. I think Rita sings in We Kiss In a Shadow before the lyric: "Behold, how my lover loves me", it's clear that it's the voice of Leona Gordon taking over for that line.

[my chicken is infected]

Rita did America, Betty did A Boy Like That because, funny enough, Rita couldn't get her voice to go low enough at the start, and I think Marni dubbed for both Natalie and Rita in Quartet or whatever it's called. (I forget at the moment.) In The King And I, I think it was Leona Gordon, since she's the only one I ever see credited. Obviously, since there was no solo singing on her part in Small House, it's probably her own voice.

[carolinakid]

Thanks for the info! It's Quintet (Jets, Sharks, Anita, Tony, Maria). I think it's Betty Wand singing Anita's part in this. Just the way she pronounces "private little mix" sounds like her.

[my chicken is infected]

According to the documentary on the 2-Disc DVD, Rita wasn't happy about hoe Betty chose to sing the song after the fact, because when Rita recorded and acted out the song for the camera, she would hiss and growl many of the words and sounds out, like the angry woman Anita was, but that Betty's vocal never matched that. And when you watch that scene, you can tell that Rita's mouth and Betty's vocal never seem to be a natural fit, because Rita's mouth looks like it's just growling those words out with bitter rage, and the vocals don't match that at all.

[thedisneyspirit]

What more surprises me about this film is that apparently there exists six or seven "adaptations" about Anna Leonowens' life. Each one more fictional than the last.

Nothing makes better entertainment than screwing up history! Am I right, Pocahontas/Anastasia lovers?

[Musical Master]

What more surprises me about this film is that apparently there exists six or seven "adaptations" about Anna Leonowens' life. Each one more fictional than the last.

Nothing makes better entertainment than screwing up history! Am I right, Pocahontas/Anastasia lovers?

What Anastasia and Pocahontas does not have is the brilliance of the music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, those are the ones that, I think, Disney WISHED they had when the both of them were alive.